Flexible guard sleeve and water deflector for clothes washing machines



March 15, 1955 K. CLARK 2,703,974

FLEXIBLE GUARD sLEEvE AND WATER DEFLECTOR FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES Filed Maren 5, 1952 United States Patent FLEXIBLE GUARD SLEEVE AND WATER DE- FLECTgR FOR CLOTHES WASHING MA- CHINE Kendall Clark, Glen Ellyn, Ill., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 5, 1952, Serial No. 274,945

4 Claims. (Cl. 68-23) This invention relates to an improved centrifugal extractor for laundry machines of the type in which articles are washed and/or rinsed in a rotatable receptacle and then are partially dried by centrifuging.

Some types of washing machines are arranged to wash, rinse, and partially dry articles in a single tub which is mounted for rapid rotation. In such machines water for washing and rinsing is introduced into the tub from a suitable source and the washing operation includes agitating the clothes load by a rotatable or oscillatable dasher driven by external mechanism. The wash water is then removed by spinning the tub, whereupon centrifugal forces extract the water from the clothes load. In vertical axis machines, the water climbs the sides of the tub and escapes through apertures disposed near the top of the tub. The waste water enters a collection chamber, known in the art as a water collector, and is pumped or otherwise removed therefrom to a suitable plumbing waste fixture. The washing operation is followed by several rinsing operations, of which one may be a deep overflow rinse following the washing operation; that is, the tub is filled to the overflow point with rinse water and the dasher operated to cause the clothes to move about within the water, which, as it overflows, carries with it the floatable dirt and any accumulation of soap curds or the like. There may also be one or more spray rinses in which water is introduced against the side of the tub while it is rotating, whereupon the clothes load which had become arranged in a sort of annular layer against the side wall of the tub during the preceding centrifugal extraction step, is saturated with the rinse water. This water flows through the clothes and upwardly along the sides of the tub for escape into the water collector.

Careless usage of the machine may result in one or more small articles dropping into the water collector. For example, during loading, a sock or handkerchief may be flipped over the edge of the tub and escape into the collector chamber; or as a result of filling the tub above the proper water line-by inattention in manual fill machines or faulty operation of automatic fill machines-- subsequent dasher operation may actually float light articles over the rim of the tub. This may also occur during the overflow rinse operation, in which the tub is purposely filled to the overflow point, as above stated. It has also been found that during the spray rinse operation, when a stream of rinse water is directed against the clothing lying along the sides of the rotating tub, the combination of the force of the water striking the clothes, and the fact that the clothes are moving rapidly relative to the water stream, may actually tear delicate fabrics.

It is an object of my invention to provide simple and effective guard means which positively prevents the passage of articles into a water collector or other casing structure about the tub, and, in addition, improves the flow pattern of water entering the tub in such manner as to eliminate the danger of tearing or damaging fabrics and to improve the distribution of the rinse water over the articles in the tub.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a highly flexible guard means as above noted, which will not interfere with the rotation of the tub if by reason of eccentric disposition of the clothes load the tub gyrates excessively during the centrifugal extraction operation.

As will presently more fully appear, I accomplish these and other objectives by providing a flexible sleeve which enters the tub from a fixed point of support above the tub and extends sufficiently close to the inner edge 2,703,974 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 of the upper rim portions thereof to provide an annular space of insufllcient width to pass small articles which may be floating upon the washing or rinsing liquid. By securing the flexible sleeve structure about one end only to a fixed frame memberfor example, the casing structure above the tub, a wall is provided which prevents articles from passing over the tub rim into the casing and yet is completely yieldable if struck by the tub during eccentric rotations thereof. Further, I arrange the water supply nozzle so that its concentrated stream strikes the flexible sleeve at a suitable angle to cause it to be deflected into the tub as a fan-shaped spray which distributes over a wide area of the articles lying against the tub wall, thus improving the spray rinse operation as such while protecting the articles against damage.

In the accompanying drawing: Fig. l is a vertical sectional elevation of a typical domestic clothes washing machine embodying a presently preferred form of my invention, said machine being in the process of filling the tub; Fig. 2 is a plan section taken on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof, partly in section, showing how the guard sleeve yields if the tub rim should strike it during a centrifugal extraction operation; and Fig. 4 shows another form of guard sleeve.

The illustrated washing machine is generally similar to that shown, for example, in the Castner et al. Reissue Patent Re. 23,481, dated April 29, 1952. For example, there is a casing structure providing a base 1, a water collector 2 supported thereon, an imperforate upwardly and outwardly flaring washing and centrifugal extraction tub 3 supported within said collector for rotation about a vertical axis, and a mechanism 4 housed within the base. Said water collector may comprise the upper portion of the casing structure, or may be an independent structure disposed within the casing, as is well understood. Without going into detail, for the mechanism per se forms no part of the present invention, it will be understood that it includes a frame plate 5 on which the various operating components are mounted and which in turn is mounted on a base member 6 by means including the frame 7 and a stud 8 which seats within a rubber block 9 carried by the base member. An upper plate 10 fixed to plate 5 by suitable spacing posts 11 provides an anchorage for centering springs 12 which hold the mechanism and tub in a normally vertical axis, for it will be understood that the stud 8 and the resilient block 9 offer only a single point support which permits the frame structure to gyrate thereabout. Snubbing means (not shown) are employed in connection with plate 10 to dampen excessive gyrations of the tub during extraction cycles, as is well understood. Tub 3 is carried by a hub member 14 fixed to the upper end of a tubular shaft 15 journaled in bearings carried by a sleevelike member 16 secured to or forming a part of the plate 10, whereupon it will be understood that the shaft 15 may rotate within said member 16. A collar 17 extends upwardly from the base of the water collector sufiiciently to be well above the level of water which accumulates therein during the extraction operation, and said collar has clearance relative to the sleeve member to permit the entire structure to gyrate with respect thereto. Rotatably mounted within said shaft 15 and an extension 18 of hub 14, is a shaft 20, the upper end of which carries the bladed agitator or dasher 21. An electric motor 22 is arranged to drive an oscillation mechanism 23, and by means of a jaw clutch member 24 operated by a solenoid 25, said jaw clutch member is brought into engagement with a complementary member 26 fixed to the end of the agitator shaft 20, whereupon said shaft may be made to oscillate its thereon-mounted agitator, as is well known in the art. Also, motor 22, operating through a clutching mechanism (not shown), is effective to drive a sheave 27 fixed to spin shaft 15, whereupon said shaft and its thereon-mounted tub may be made to spin rapidly. Sheave 15 may be connected by belt 28 to the clutch mechanism, although it will be understood that said sheave may be driven by an independent motor (not shown). Pursuant to usual practice, the periods of operation of the agitator and the spinning of the tub are controlled by a conventional time-cycle switch (not shown) which also controls the introduction of water into the tub by energizing and de-energizing solenoid controlled valves (not shown) connected to the hot and cold water supply lines (not shown) of the building and serving the waterpipe 30 which terminates in a suitable discharge nozzle 31. Pump 32 is suitably belt-driven from motor 22. Said pump has an inflow connection 33 connected by means of a flexible conduit 34 to the drain port 35 of the water collector, and pursuant to standard practice, the pump discharge (not shown) communicates with a suitable plumbing waste connection.

In a typical washing operation, the tub 3 is filled to the required level; in manual-fill machines, the operator may open the door 36 with which the top frame panel 37 is provided so as to observe the water level. In automatic-fill machines, it is contemplated that the timecycle switch will cause the above-mentioned solenoid valves to open for a fixed period calculated to fill the tub to the proper water level. Usually the water level for a full clothes load will be about two inches below the overflow ports 38 about the upper portion of the tub wall. It may be noted here that in some forms of tub, the upper rim is spun inwardly to form a guard flange; in the illustrated embodiment, the tub wall per se is straight, and there is provided a heavy ring 39 which sits on the tub rim and forms the double function of a spinstabilizing or balance ring of substantial mass, andby virtue of the inwardly extending flange 40-a guard against articles climbing over the top of the tub during centrifugal extraction. The motor may be operating during this fill period, but the time-cycle switch will not yet have energized the agitator clutch solenoid 25, or the control (not shown) for the spin-sheave clutch. Pump 32 may be directly belt-connected to the motor shaft sheave 41 and it will therefore be operating; however, there is at this time no water in the collector 2.

Clothes and detergent are placed in the tub and the time-cycle switch operates to energize solenoid 25, whereupon the agitator shaft is coupled to the oscillating jaw clutch member 24, and the ensuing operation of the agitator 21 tumbles the clothes load about in the active water within the tub. During this operation the tub is held against rotation; suitable brake means (not shown) being provided. After a washing interval, solenoid 25 operates to declutch the agitator and the spin sheave is connected to motor power to spin the tub. As the tub gathers speed, the water climbs the tub sides, as indicated in Fig. 3, and escapes through the plurality of ports 38. The clothes form an annular layer C about the tub wall, as schematically indicated in Fig. 3. The srient wash water is removed from the collector by pump 3 With the tub spinning rapidly, water is sprayed against the clothes load for one or more brief intervals. The rinse water permeates the clothes and leaves the tub by centrifugal action.

Then. there may be a deep overflow rinse in which the tub is filled to overflowing with the rinse water and the agitator 21 operated to tumble the clothes about; the water continues to flow into the tub during this operation and floating soil and soap curds are carried out into the collector 2. The water is then shut off and the tub finally spun to extract residual water and leave the clothes in a damp-dry condition.

It has been noted that at times during the washing operation, or during the overflow rinse operation and the subsequent extraction operation, light articles may be floated over the inwardly extending flange 40 of the ring 39. If this occurs, the drainage port 35 may be clogged by the article; consequently, the pump cannot remove the water entering the water collector. The present invention provides effective protection against escape of articles from the tub. A presently preferred embodiment contemplates a flexible guard wall extending into the open end of the tub in relatively close relation to the upper rim thereof. In the vertical axis machine, the guard means may comprise a thin, flexible, rubber sleeve 42 secured about a flange 43 extending downwardly from the top panel 37 concentric with the axis of the tub. Advantageously, this flange may comprise part of the seat for the door 36. A convenient securement method is by a band 44 which cinches the upper wall of the sleeve into a peripheral groove of the flange.

Sleeve 42 may advantageously be of rubber or any appropriate material having an inherent flexibility and resistance to deterioration by reason of Contact with washing liquids. It may have a continuous wall within the tub, or said wall portion may be axially or otherwise cut to provide a plurality of flaps 42a, Fig. 4 As best appears in Fig. 1, the sleeve extends relatively close to the inner edge of the lip 40 of guard ring 39; for example, sufficiently close to leave an annular space 45 of about /2" width. The sleeve preferably projects into the tub to approximately the top of the overflow ports 38 so as not to interrupt the outflow of dirt or soap curd during the overflow rinse. It is possible, of course, to have the guard wall extend only to the top of the balance ring 39 (or the top edge of the tub if not equipped with such a ring) so long as the space between the bottom of the guard wall and the tub is insufficient to pass a small article. A guard wall extending into the tub, however, provides positive protection against accidental passage of articles into the water collector during the loading of the machine. It is impossible for even the smallest items of laundry to be passed accidentally over the rim of the tub, no matter how carelessly the tub is being loaded, and it would be diflicult for the user even deliberately to force an article under the guard and over the rim of the tub. Similarly, the wall forms a highly effective protection against loss of small articles which may be floating on the surface of the water. It will catch such articles, and the narrow space 45 is insufficient to permit the passage thereof over the ring 39. During the spin cycle when eccentric loading might result in excessive gyration of the tub, as indicated in Fig. 3, the sleeve 42 yields if struck by the rim of the ring.

The guard sleeve also serves to deflect the water stream issuing from nozzle 31 and prevents a concentrated stream of water from striking articles within the tub. As best appears in Figs. 1 and 2, nozzle 31 is supported relative to the hub so that the discharge point is at least one inch above the maximum overflow spill level thereof; and in conformity with usual plumbing code requirements, such level is considered to be the top of the ring 39 rather than the level of the outflow ports 38. Striking the guard sleeve at both a vertical and horizontal angle, the nozzle jet is transformed into a fan-shaped water inflow pattern which has substantial width at the time of contact with any clothes which may be arranged against the tub wall when a spray-rinse operation begins following an extraction operation. This fan-shaped spray not only eliminates the possibility of clothes damage but distributes the rinse water more widely over the clothes layers and, thus, improves the efficiency of the spray rinse step.

Although it is definitely preferred that the guard wall be attached to or suspended from the top casing panel about the door opening because such an arrangement provides positive protection against escape of articles, it is obvious that the wall may be attached to other frame structures. The important aspect is to have the wall extend sufficiently close to and below the upper rim of the tub to prevent passage of an article between the edge of the wall and the tub, and also extend close enough to an overlying casing wall to prevent passage of articles during careless loading. Except that it would not then protect against the latter occurrence, the guard wall may be secured to or suspended from the door or cover 36 itself. This, of course, is on the assumption that the door is closed all during the operation of the machine.

It will be understood that this invention is not limited to machines in which articles are washed and rinsed in a single tub or receptacle, for it is obviously applicable to machines of the separate spin-tub type, in which event it would be advantageous to provide both the wash tub and the spin-rinse tub with the flexible guard wall means. It is also to be noted that the guard wall structure and its cooperation with the water-fill means is useful also with machines of the type in which the washing and/or spin tub is mounted for rotation on an axis inclined from the vertical.

While there has been described what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the function and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a clothes washing machine, a casing structure provided with a loading door and having a relatively large water-collecting chamber in its lower portion, a

tub disposed wholly within said water-collecting chamber for rotation relative thereto about a substantially vertical axis, said tub flaring substantially continuously upwardly and outwardly and terminating in an inwardly extending rim portion disposed beneath said loading door, said tub having openings through its wall only in the zone of maximum diameter thereof, means for rotating said tub rapidly to effect discharge of washing liquid into said water-collecting chamber through said wall openings, means supporting said tub to permit relatively wide gyrations thereof with respect to said water-collecting chamber during said rapid rotation, means for supplying said tub with liquid, and a thin, flexible, straight-sided cylindrical guard member supported only by said casing structure about said door and projecting into said tub in concentric relation therewith to substantially the level of said tub openings, the free end of said guard member being in relatively closely spaced relation to the inner edge of said tub rim portion to provide therewith a relatively small, annular flow passage communicating between said tub and said chamber.

2. In a washing machine, a casing structure having a loading door, a tub disposed within said structure and having an end facing said door to receive therethrough articles to be washed and/or rinsed, means for mounting said tub for rotation about a vertical axis concentric with said door, wall means extending inwardly of said tub about the open end thereof, said tub having a plurality of outflow apertures disposed in a row about the tub below the inwardly extending wall means, a flexible sleeve fixed relative to said tub and extending thereinto in concentric relation therewith, said sleeve being in relatively closely spaced relation to the radially innermost edge of said wall means and extending to approximately the upper edge of said row of apertures, and a water discharge nozzle disposed beyond and above the open end of said tub to direct water against said flexible sleeve for deflection thereby into said tub.

3. In a washing machine, a casing structure having a loading door, a tub disposed within said structure and having an open end facing said door to receive therethrough articles to be washed and/or rinsed, means for mounting said tub for rotation about an axis concentric with said door, wall means extending inwardly of said tub about the open end thereof, a flexible sleeve fixed relative to said tub and extending thereinto in concentric relation therewith to provide a relatively narrow annular space about the radially innermost edge of said wall means and extending inwardly beyond said edge, and a water discharge nozzle disposed remote from said tub and said sleeve, said nozzle being directed angularly toward said sleeve to cause the sleeve to deflect water discharge through said annular space and into said tub in a fanwise pattern.

4. In a washing machine, a casing structure, a tub disposed within said structure and having an open end in which to receive articles to be washed and/or rinsed, means for mounting said tub for rotation about a vertical axis, a flexible sleeve fixed to said casing structure and extending into said tub in concentric relation therewith, said sleeve being in relatively closely spaced relation to the upper edge portion of said tub to provide a relatively narrow annular space about the inner rim thereof, and a water discharge nozzle disposed beyond and above the open end of said tub and in spaced relation to said sleeve, said nozzle being directed angularly downwardly toward said sleeve, whereby the sleeve will deflect water into said tub and toward the inner wall thereof in a fanwise pattern.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,521,159 Geldhof et al. Sept. 5, 1950 2,526,344 Geldhof et al. Oct. 17, 1950 2,539,533 Douglas Jan. 30, 1951 2,610,498 Geldhof et al. Sept. 16, 1952 2,613,837 Morton Oct. 14, 1952 2,625,031 Kreitchman Jan. 13, 1953 2,627,741 Johnson Feb. 10, 1953 2,643,538 Bruckman et al. June 30, 1953 

